Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to common protein epitopes on the cell surface of <em>Streptococcus mutans</em> and <em>Streptococcus sobrinus</em>.

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAb)-were prepared against a cell surface antigen which cross-react between Streptotycoccus muatans (serotypes c, e and f) and Streptococcus sobrinus (serotypes d and g). Two of the MAb also recognise a determinant on the surface of Streptotycoccus muatans(serotype a). The common antigen shared between S. mutans and S. sobrinus was demonstrated by Western blotting to be about 200 kD in size. This antigen is shared not only by the cell surfaces of serotypes a, c, d, e, f and g, but also by the major cell surface antigen of S. mutans of 185 kD. These MAb identify all but one mutans type of streptococci and can be utilised as analytical reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]